Ohio Residents Urged to Fight Poverty by Joining AmeriCorps VISTA

As the holiday season brings thoughts of giving back, a new public service campaign was launched today to enlist Ohio residents to “fight poverty with passion” by joining VISTA, the AmeriCorps program that fights poverty.

The campaign draws attention to the 37 million Americans who live in poverty and to the changing face of poverty, which today is often hidden and found within working families. It encourages Americans to dedicate a year of their lives to fight poverty by joining VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Bilingual television PSAs, print ads, and web banners drive potential recruits to visit AmeriCorps.gov or call 800-942-2677 to learn more and apply.

VISTA was founded in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty. Since then, more than 177,000 Americans have answered VISTA’s call to devote a year of full-time service living and working in low-income communities to help eradicate poverty. Made part of AmeriCorps in 1993, VISTA provides 6,500 opportunities each year for individuals to create and expand programs that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster business and economic development, increase housing opportunities, and otherwise help low-income individuals and communities toward self-sufficiency.